Infectious Disease Alert
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Bambi Strikes Again — Encephalitis Due to the ‘Deer Tick Virus’ (Powassan Virus) May Be Increasing in Frequency
Powassan virus is transmitted by the same tick that carries the etiologic agent of Lyme disease and several other pathogens. The number of cases of encephalitis caused by this virus may be increasing in the endemic areas.
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Current Trends and Outcomes for Infective Endocarditis
Using large databases from New York and California, investigators found the overall incidence of infective endocarditis remained stable between 1998 and 2013, and 90-day mortality declined. Changes were noted in pathogen etiology and patient characteristics over time.
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
Sepsis Survival Affected by Drug Shortage;
A Rare Cause of Eosinophilic Meningoencephalitis;
Look, Ma! I Hooked My Thumb
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Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Hepatitis E
Hepatitis E is the most common form of viral hepatitis worldwide and often is asymptomatic. But it is commonly associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome and Guillain-Barré variants.
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Beta-lactam Antibiotics May Be Useful in MRSA Infection
Using several in vitro assays and animal models, it was shown that oxacillin-treated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains are attenuated in virulence. The effect is mediated by repression of accessory gene regulatory quorum-sensing system and altered cell wall architecture.
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Treatment of Chronic Fatigue/Myalgic Encephalitis Syndrome: Blocking the IL-1 Component to the Inflammatory Response Is Ineffective
Blockade of IL-1 activity with anakinra failed to reduce fatigue in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
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Echinococcosis — Who Cares, and What’s New?
Echinococcosis continues to cause significant disease in much of the world, and a new form is emerging in Latin America. Combinations of medical, procedural, and surgical treatment usually are effective, but long-term albendazole may be required.
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Restricting Fluoroquinolone Use Reduces Clostridium difficile Infection More Than Infection Control Methods
An observational study from England showed that restricting fluoroquinolone use reduced incidence of Clostridium difficile infection more than would be predicted by improved infection control methods alone.
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TB in the United States: Better, but Still a Long Way to Go
The incidence of tuberculosis in the United States continues to decrease, but not at a rate sufficient to achieve elimination during this century.
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Medical Treatment of Acute Appendicitis in Children
A meta-analysis demonstrated a 90.5% success rate of medical treatment compared to appendectomy for acute uncomplicated appendicitis in children 5-15 years of age. There was a nearly nine-fold higher risk of failure with antibiotic treatment, indicating that appendectomy remains the standard of care.